Chong pulls double duty for Blackbirds

ERICA Chong (Hilo '03) savored success in two sports for the Long Island University (Brooklyn campus) Blackbirds during the 2005-06 school year.

The junior, who plays in the midfield and up top, appeared in 20 matches for the 13-6-1 LIU women's soccer team last fall. She put 12 of her 14 shots on goal, scored twice and had one assist.

This spring she earned All-Northwest Conference honors for finishing third in the league golf championships at Disney's Lake Buena Vista Course in Orlando, Fla. Chong shot a 78-79--157 to lead the Blackbirds to a second-place finish, two strokes behind St. Francis (Pa.).

It was Chong's best finish of the spring season. She is majoring as a physician's assistant and is in LIU's Honors Program.

» Kari Otani started all 17 matches she appeared in for the 5-11-2 Portland State Vikings. The junior midfielder from Maui High School put 10 of 23 shots on the goal, but was denied the net.

» Baldwin graduates Jenavi Iida and Kristi Tintiangco each played in all 18 matches for the Oregon Institute of Technology Owls last fall, helping the team to an 8-10 record.

Iida, a junior midfielder, scored one goal on four shots and assisted on three others. Tintiangco, a sophomore defender, made 15 starts and took one shot.

Iida also was one of four members of the soccer team to be honored as a 2005-06 NAIA Scholar All-America recipient. A student/athlete must have a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher to be cited. Iida is majoring in medical imaging.

» Rachel Clevenger, a sophomore striker from Hilo High School, delivered two assists for the 11-6-3 Willamette Bearcats in the 2005 season. The Bearcats finished second in the Northwest Conference.

» Katie Saiki and Emily Moore, Menlo College sophomores and Iolani grads, contributed to the Oaks' 13-5-1 season that had them winning the California Pacific Conference title.

Saiki, a striker, had two assists in 16 matches. Moore, a midfielder, saw action in 11 matches for the NAIA school in Atherton, Calif.

» Three freshmen, Zach Dominy (Waiakea) and Milo and Micah Kalama from Iolani, had limited roles in the Menlo men's team's 11-7-1 season. Milo, a striker, played in eight matches and took five shots without scoring. Micah, also a striker, played in nine matches, and Dominy, a defender, played in six.

» Sarah Yoro (Mililani '05) will transfer from Oregon to Azusa Pacific this fall. The 2005 Star-Bulletin All-State second-team member played in 12 matches for the Ducks and had one assist.

"I just felt Oregon wasn't a good fit for me. It has nothing to do with the coaches. I didn't think I fit in the way I thought I would," Yoro said.

The striker contacted former Mililani teammate Jolie Nitta, a midfielder for APU.

"Jolie told me I would fit in there," said Yoro who will be eligible to play this fall and will receive an athletic scholarship.

Just for Kicks runs every other Friday in the Star-Bulletin. Al Chase can be reached at achase@starbulletin.com.